Pipe line plug



Nov. 17, 1931. cox 1,831,905

PIPE LINE PLUG I Filed Aug. 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR ATTORNEY G. H. Cox 1,831,905

PIPE LINE PLUG Nov. 17, 1931.

Filed Aug. 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A m ;y- P 8 12 Yaw 4 Gzwye/r. CbX, .NVENTOR ATTOR NEY Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES GEORGE HERBERT COX, OF KEARNEY, NEBRASKA PIPE LINE PLUG Application filed August 23, 1930. Serial No. 477,422.

This invention also consists in certain.

other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and i5 specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which V Figure 1 is a sectional view through a pipe line, showing the invention in use thereon.

Figure 2 is a view of one of the sections of the expanding ring.

Figure 3 is a view of one of the expanding plugs.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, but so looking in the opposite direction.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View through the parts which are associated with one of the expanding plugs.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the line and showing the device in elevation.

Figure 7 is a section on line 77 of Figure 1.

In these views, the numeral 1 indicates a cup-shaped member formed of leather or the like and made similar to the cup leather of a pump. A sectional ring A is fastened to the outer edge of the member 1 by the rivets 2 or the like and the end of each section is recessed on its inner wall, as shown at 3, and this recess leaves a tongue 4 at each end of each section. These tongues are of half the thickness of the sections and overlap when the device is in use. By forming the ring 50 in sections, the device can be folded at its center as the member 1, being of flexible material, will bend at its center and thus form a hinge for the device. A curved lever 5 is pivoted to one of the sections as shown at 6, and the free end of the lever is adapted to engage the keeper member 7 attached to the other sect-ion so as to hold the device in open position or unfolded position. When the device is to be folded, the lever is swung to a position where it will overlap a part of the section to which it is fastened so that it will not interfere with the folding of the device. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the flange 8 of the cup member 1 overlaps the ring A. a

A pair of flanged bushings 9 passes through the cup member at points where the two sections of the ring come together, each bushing being exteriorly threaded to receive a nut 10 which clamps a part of the cup member between itself and the flange of the bushing. Each bushing is also formed with a tapered interior ending in a threaded part and a conical plug 11 ending in a threaded part 12 is adapted to pass through each opening in the ring into the bushing with the threaded part 12 engaging the interior threads of the bushing. The holes through whichvthe plugs pass are formed by the recesses 3 so that the introduction of the plugs into the bushings will act to expand the sections of the ring, due to the engagement of the conical part of the plugs with the walls of the holes or recesses 3 and thus the cup member is stretched. The degree to which the cup member is stretched is regulated by the position of the plugs in the bushings, as will be seen from Figure 5. The large end of each plug is formed with a pair of perforated ears 13 to which is attached a flexible tool 14 so that by turning this tool, the plug will be turned so that the plug is caused to move longitudinally by its threaded part engaging the threads of the bushing. Each section of the ring carries the pointed members 1 1 which project beyond the periphery of the ring and engage the pipe and thus act to hold the device in place.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by swinging the member 5 against one of the ring sections, the device can be folded at its center and placed through a small opening in the pipe line, after which the parts are unfolded and the lever 5 moved to locking position to hold the parts in unfolded position. Then the tools 14 are turned to cause the plugs 11 to expand the ring so as to stretch the cup member until the flange 8 of the cup member firmly engages the inner Walls of the pipe. This expanding movement Will cause the members lt to bite into the Walls of the pipe and thus the plug is firmly held in place and Will prevent passage of fluid through the pipe.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention Will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

WVhat I claim is 1. A pipe line plug comprising-a flexible cup-shaped member, a sectional ring connected with the periphery of said member, the sectional ring permitting the member to be folded, means for holding sections of the ring and the member in unfolded position and means at the junctions of the sections of the ring for expanding the plug.

2. A pipe line plug comprising a flexible cup-shaped member, a sectional ring connect ed with the periphery of said member, the sectional ring permitting the member to be folded, means for holding sections of the ring and the member in unfolded position, means at the junctions of the sections of the ring for expanding the device, such means comprising bushings carried by the cup member and having threaded interiors and the ends of the sections having openings therein and plugs passing through the openings into the bush-- ings and having threaded parts engaging the threads of the bushings.

3. A pipe line plug comprising a flexible cup-shaped member, a sectional ring connect-- ed with the periphery of said member, the sectienal ring permitting the member to be folded, means for holding sections of the ring and the member in unfolded position, means at the junctions of the sections of the ring for expanding the plug, such means comprising bushings carried by the cup member and having threaded interiors and the ends of the sections having openings therein, plugs passing through the openings into the bushings and having threaded parts engaging the threads of the bushings and pointed members carried by the ring and projecting therefrom for biting into the pipe When the plug is expanded.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE HERBERT COX. 

